Garment hanger



e 1952 G. H. BUGENHAGEN 2,620,952

GARMENT HANGER Filed Jan. 26, 1950 INVENTOR. 66 I9. flv enim w/r Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT HANGER George H. Bugenhagen, Minot, N. Dak.

Application January 26, 1950, Serial No. 140,663

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a garment hanger and more particularly to the type of garment hanger wherein closable jaws grip and hold the garment positively during storage of the desired article of clothing.

An object of the invention is to provide a garment hanger having closable gripping bars which are susceptible of ready manipulation to close and hold, or open and release a garment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment hanger with very positive locking and releasing means.

Still another object is to provide a locking type garment hanger of simple design adaptable to mass production methods from readily available materials.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination coat hanger and locking type trouser hanger.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be aparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the annexed drawings wherein: I Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the garment hanger of the invention in full lines showing however the position some of the elements occupy at various times in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a section view along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction of the arrows showing the jaws of the hanger in a closed position.

Fig. 3 is sectional view along lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the position assumed by the various elements when the jaws are in an open position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view along lines 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the means for looking the jaws into engagement with the garment.

Referring to Fig. 1 garment gripping bar I isopposed by a second bar 2 (not shown in Fig. 1). Paired supporting legs 3 and 4 are suitably attached to bar I in spaced apart relation. Both legs are formed into closed coiled loops 5 and 6 through which cross rod I extends. Cross rod I may be extended at either end into coat hanging arms 8 and 9 if desired or these elements may be omitted and cross rod I riveted or flared at either end after clearing loops 5 and 6. The legs 3 and 4 extend a short distance above cross rod 1 and at a different angle (see Fig. 2) as seen at Ill and II after which they bend sharply to form converging arms I2 and I3 which are integral with each other at their apex I4. Arms I2 and I3 extend at a different angle than the remainder of the legs 3 and 4 when viewed either from the side or the end (see Fig. 2). Gripping bar 2 is similarly engaged by supporting legs I5 and I6 2 which are formed at their upper end into a structure of very similar appearance to that just described excepting that as viewed from the side the second structure gives the appearance of be.- ing framed inside of the first structure. Bothlegs I5 and I6 are formed into closed coiled'loops I1 and I8 through which cross rod I extends. Legs I5 and I6 extend a short distance above cross rod 'I as seen at I9 and 25] and at a different angle than formerly (see Fig. 2) after which they bend sharply into convergin arms 2I and 22 which are integral with each other at their point of meeting 23, arms 2| and 22 extend at a different angle from the remainder of legs I5 and Hi When viewed from either the side or the end. A clip member 24 is centrally positioned on cross rod I and serves as a support for the leg 25 of hanger hook 26 pivotally mounted on pin 21 passing through clip 24. The leg 25 of hook 26 passes between the apex iormed by the two sets of arms I2 and I3, and 2! and 22. Spring member 28 is mounted on cross rod I and is provided with L- shaped ends 29 and 3B which engage legs 4 and I5 for urging the same outwardly when the grippingbars are unlocked and provide for more ready reception of the garment.

In Fig. 2 the relation of the various elements, with the hanger in a closed position, is shown in clearer detail. For example legs 4 and I6 supporting gripping bars I and 2 extend upwardly in slightly converging relation until they are formed into loops 6 and I8. Thereafter above the loops 6 and I8 the legs I I and 20 diverge rather sharply for a short distance and then bend sharply inward into arms I3 and 22 and meet 16g 25 of the hanger hook 26 at I 4 and 23.

In Fig. 3 the relation of the various elements is shown with the gripping bars I and 2 in the open position. In this view the hanger hook 26 and its supporting leg 25 has been pivoted forward which in turn has allowed the gripping bars I and 2 to separate by virtue of the frame formed by converging arms I2 and I3, sliding over the frame formed by converging arms 2| and 22. The spring 28 acts to urge the jaws apart when the hanger leg 25 is pushed forward or backward out of engagement with the point of convergence of arms I2 and I3, at I4, and arms 2| and 22 at 23.

In Fig. 4 the contour of converging arms I2 and I3 is seen to provide a shallow recess or indent .at I4. The recess or indent at I4 serves to securely hold hanger hook leg 25 in a vertical position when the leg 25 is brought into engagement with the recess or indent, yet allows the leg to be directed forward or backward upon application of a refinement of the device which may be omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The operation of" the hanger will be best under-- stood from the following description in connection with the placement of a garment therein. With the hanger in an open position such as is shown in Fig. 3 trouser cufis or the like may be placed between the gripping bars I and 2 andthe'hook 26 and leg 25 raised toward the-.vertical. position. The leg 25 will encounter arms 12 and 22 or I3 and 2| and as it moves upwardly the armswill .j

be wedged apart until the hook leg 25 engages the indent atl4and the level portion at 23.. At

thisfxpointgripping bars I and? will have been urgedstronglytogether to hold the trouser cufis securelynw- To release thetrousers it is only nec-- essary to-move leg 25 out of the indent and spring 28 will force'the' gripping bars apartto release thezgarment.

It will: be apparent that if desired the coat hangingearmsfi and 9 may be readily omitted in caseonlya trouser hanger or a device with gripping" bars :only is desired. Inthis case cross rod 1 will only need to be riveted or burred over so as to'retaintengagement withloops 5 and 6. It will bereadily appreciated'that the gripping .bars may be :made of wood; plastic, or the like while substantially all of the-.remainderof the structure maybe formedfromsuitable gage wire to provide simple andrapid-assembly.

I claim::;

1. In a garment hanger the combinationwhich includes. a pairof garment'gripping bars, a pair of supporting rods for each gripping bar, said rods being-formed into loop portions spaced from the gripping bars-with the'holes-in the loops being in alignment a cross member extending through the loop portions to allow swinging movement of the grippingbars, a hook member including a shank portionmountedat the shank end forpartial ro-.

tational'imovement. ontheacross membeig and means-ioriholding the gripping barsin gripping engagement; consisting of extensions of therod members formed beyond the loop portions into modified opposed V-shaped bars with their apexes adapted to closely approach each other and their legs diverging from each other when the gripping bars are in a closed position and with one of said V-shaped bars being adapted to move over the other as the gripping bars move apart, said V- shaped bars being formed adjacent their upper ends into a flat section and an indented section respectively so as to receive the hook shank in looking engagement, said V-shaped bars also being adapted to be wedged apart as the shank of the hanger hook is moved to the vertical position.

2. In a garment hanger the combination which includes a pair of garment gripping bars, a pair of supportingrrods for each grippin bar, said rods being formedinto loop portions spaced from the gripping bars with the holes in the loops beingjinalignment, a cross rod extending through the holes in the loops and being formed at each end into a coathanging arm, a hookmember including .a shank poition-mountedfor partial rotationa'l-movement on the cross rod, a spring car ried by the'cross rod associated with'each set-oi. supporting rods adapted to urge them apart, and means for holding the gripping bars in gripping engagement comprising extensions of the rod members formed beyond the'loop portions into modified opposed V-shaped bars with their apexes adapted to closelyapproach eachother and with their legs'diverging from each other-when the.-

gripping bars are in a closed position and with one of said V shaped bars being adapted to move over the other as the gripping bars move'apart,

said V-shaped bars being formed adjacent their.

upper ends into a fiat portion and an indented section respectively so as to receive the...hook

shank in locking engagement, said V shapedbarsm also being adapted to be wedged apart as the shank of the hook is urged to .the vertical position.

GEORGE E. BUGENHAGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name. Date:

608,295v Mahoney'"; -Aug.i2', 1898 2,014,165 Beutler Sept; 10, 1935 2,076,533 Fuller. .Apr.- 13, 1937 

